From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Framingham, MA

Late yesterday afternoon I saw two of these moths on my pumpkin plant: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=39591
Anybody know what this is and whether it is good, bad, or indifferent?

7/30/2005 8:26:58 AM

Topsfield, Ma.

Hi Steve, Great pic! Although I can't identify her, I'm pretty sure she's not an enemy, definitely not a VB moth!
Best of luck, Duff

7/30/2005 7:15:57 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Steve, doesnt look like a borer, look at my diary i have a good pic or 2 of one.

7/30/2005 7:52:48 PM

Long Island,New York

She's not a foe of pumpkins. She's likely a "skipper moth" of some variety. We used to call them "jets" cause of the resemblence to fighter jets when we were kids. Easy to catch in your hand too....

7/30/2005 8:16:42 PM

Framingham, MA

Thanks for the responses. Glad to know this is harmless. Tom, thanks for the tip on your diary and vine borer pictures.

7/30/2005 9:11:50 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Skipper......Here is a cool link to help identify Skippers as well as other moths & butterflies.

This is just the Skipper page. Use the link to access the full menu.

http://www.flybywire.dsl.pipex.com/piccies/ButterfliesMoths/BySpecies-Hesperiidae.html

7/30/2005 9:33:21 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Bummer...that link is from the UK so a lot of North American species aren't there.

7/30/2005 9:35:33 PM

Framingham, MA

I found this web link to photos of skippers seen in Massachusetts:

http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/construct-group-page.asp?gr=Hesperiidae

I'm not sure which one I've photographed. The good news is that they are pollinators and are otherwise harmless.

7/31/2005 10:48:06 AM

Long Island,New York

Damn...I knew I shoulda been an entomologist !

7/31/2005 1:57:30 PM

Framingham, MA

I emailed the web site I referenced above and the response was that "It looks like a Peck’s Skipper to me. No threat to the pumpkin patch.".

8/1/2005 6:37:21 PM